How we can help

PARCS is an organisation based within Portsmouth City that works with people who have been sexually violated at any time in their lives no matter how long ago.

PARCS provides free specialist counselling and psychotherapy to women and men, aged 5+ who are resident in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire and who have experienced any form of sexual violation at any time in their lives.

Counselling

Counselling is an opportunity to explore feelings, thoughts and behaviours that are overwhelming you or that you want to understand or change.

You will have regular meetings with a person who has been trained to listen carefully to what you say, and to respond in a way that will help you look at yourself and your experiences differently.

Domestic abuse

PARCS provides a free, specialist counselling service for victims of domestic abuse.

Our service is committed to raising awareness of domestic abuse in the community and to working with other professionals and agencies whose clients may be affected by interpersonal abuse.

Young persons service

PARCS aims to promote healthy relationships and to help young women and young men age 11 and above living in Portsmouth and SE Hants, who have had any unwanted sexual experience.

The Service offers free face to face counselling to young women and young men, aged 11-24.

Helplines

Providing information and emotional support for anyone aged 18+ who has had an unwanted sexual experience. The supportlines also provide support and information to friends, partners, family and professionals.

The supportline team can offer support in relation to the difficult feelings commonly associated with sexual abuse, whether recent or historical.

Prevention

PARCS provides training to educate and inform individuals, agencies and statutory organisations about the effects of sexual violation and trauma on individuals and families. If you are interested in receiving training contact the number below.

PARCS is always happy to come and visit organisations and discuss, in small groups, the work that we do.

Hampshire service

PARCS Hampshire service currently runs on Mondays and Tuesdays to female and male survivors of sexual abuse.

This service is offered to individuals living in the South East Hampshire who live in the boroughs of: Gosport, Fareham and Havant.

Messages from those we've helped -

A big thank you for so much understanding. I have been on a journey and cannot thank PARCS enough. My past is always with me but I hope now I can move on.

I feel I have been able to accept the past and place it where it should be – in the past.

I have managed to let go of the guilt. I have felt over my past and realised that all that happened to me was not my fault.

PARCS has been so valuable for me in helping me through and teaching me that it wasn’t my fault , that I am free, strong and valuable......I am worth something! A big thank you to everyone at PARCS.

Thank you, thank you, thank you PARCS. Recovery takes time – there are no shortcuts, but there is a way to inner peace with your help.

PARCS saved my life! Without them I would not be here. With their help I was able to become the person I should always have been. Thank you!!!!!

PARCS support has enabled me to change the way I see myself, my past and my future. I have experienced such care, regard and expertise and the effect on my life is profound.

I have been coming to PARCS for over a year now and would not be anywhere close to where I have progressed to now had it not been for PARCS. It is the best centre for professional help I have ever been to.